Training and managing a Siberian husky effectively

It is certainly fair to say that the Siberian husky is among the most challenging of dog breeds to own, when you take into account their large size, outgoing personalities and really onerous exercise requirements. Their handsome appearances that are highly distinctive as well as their very friendly natures make them appealing to all sorts of potential dog owners, but a husky is certainly not a dog to underestimate or think of as easy going, because the opposite is generally true!

This means that if you have your heart set on owning a Siberian husky, or already own one and are seeking some tips and tricks for their training and management, you must take into account the dog’s core traits and work with them, not against them.

Every dog breed and type has different traits and so, requirements when it comes to training and management, and the Siberian husky is no different-a generalised training regime or a one size fits all solution most definitely won’t work with this breed!

In this article we will share some tips and advice on how to train and manage the Siberian husky, taking into account the breed’s unique traits and personalities. Read on to learn more.

Energy levels and exercise

First of all, anyone who aspires to own a Siberian husky must be prepared to spend significant amounts of time tending to the dog’s need for exercise-a sedate hour long walk on the lead is by no means enough to keep the breed happy and fit.

Siberian huskies can stay on the go all day, and they are virtually impossible to wear out, and so you must be able to meet their need for active, varied exercise in order to have a hope of keeping them calm and manageable!

Exercise and walking can also of course provide opportunities for training too, so while you are unlikely to be successful trying to teach new skills to a husky that is full of beans and dying for a walk, using walks and exercise to work on their skills and engage their brains is an effective, holistic approach to take.

Socialisation

Socialisation with other dogs is a vitally important part of canine life, and this is one area in which the Siberian husky really excels. They are highly social dogs that really enjoy spending time with other dogs, and they are very personable with other dogs and love to play and make new friends.

Problems with socialising huskies are unusual, as they naturally seek out the company of others and also thrive within a pack situation, so try to ensure that you can meet your dog’s need to have lots of canine friends, which will also of course help greatly with keeping them entertained and burning off some of that excess energy.

Interaction with other people

Much as is the case when socialising with other dogs, Siberian huskies are usually very social with people, and are unlikely to be shy or wary of strangers. In fact, the opposite is usually the case-huskies are really keen to make friends, and will often march straight up to a total stranger for attention! This type of relaxed friendliness around people is of course a good thing, but it may also cause problems.

Not everyone will want a large, wolfish strange dog approaching them head on with confidence, so your dog must learn about boundaries and manners with strangers! Also, huskies are also quite prone to wandering off with people that they find entertaining, and this is something that you should keep firmly under control too!

On the lead walking

All dogs need to be able to walk nicely on the lead, but the husky is often a breed that is so keen to get out there and find out what is going on that they can have a real tendency to pull. Nipping this in the bud early on is the best solution, and the worst way to approach this is to yank on the lead in reply.

When your dog is tugging to get ahead, condition them to wait by stopping until they stop and the lead relaxes, before starting up again. This can be frustrating and time consuming to manage, but will give you a really firm foundation for later on, when your adult dog is much more likely to walk nicely.

Using a harness rather than a collar is usually a good idea with a husky too, and you might want to look into some of the equipment and attachments supplied for mushing and sledding, as these can provide suggestions on how best to equip your dog for a walk!

Off the lead and recall

Siberian huskies need to be able to run, and if you do not provide the opportunity for this, they will become exponentially more likely to try to escape or run off, or fail to return when called. Reliable recall can be a real challenge for the husky, so start when the dog is young and turn recall into a game with treats and rewards.

House rules

Finally, a husky is a large dog that takes up a lot of space, and that is apt to shed heavily a couple of times a year, all of which means that good house training and management is essential. Set clear boundaries within the home, and provide your dog with plenty of interactive toys to entertain themselves with, as well as using a crate or a set room for time out and quiet times-but not for too long!